Top 10 parrillas in Buenos Aires

The parrillas in Buenos Aires are a classic tradition that every day enhance the best of the popular Argentine barbecue or asado. This tradition is so important for Southerners that until last year, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Argentina ranked as the 4th country in the world that consumes the most meat: about 84.7 kilograms per person each year.

Possibly the best way to experience the ritual is with an Asado Argentino a Puerta Cerrada, however, the restaurants of the city do not disappoint and here we leave you with our Top 10 parillas in Buenos Aires.

1. Don Julio

It is currently one of the grills of Buenos Aires most visited by tourists. The main reason for the long waiting lines to each night is the excellence of their cuts, especially the Ojo de Bife (Ribeye Steak), one of the best the specialties of the place. The style of this antique house in Palermo offers a very cozy atmosphere and a third aspect that highlights Don Julio, its wine list (all Argentine!) With 700 selections.

2. El Pobre Luis

It is about a Parrilla Rioplatense as the owner used to say, Luis Acuña from Montevideo, who died in 2013. El Pobre Luis has 20 years of tradition in the Belgrano neighborhood and is one of the favorites of the porteños. The famous dishes of the place are the gizzards, the chorizo “de rueda sin atar” and the pamplonas de pollo, cerdo o lomo. The parrilla is so famous that there several famous people like Rafael Nadal, Joan Manuel Serrat and even Zinedine Zidane have eaten there.

3. Cabaña Las Lilas

It’s a prestigious restaurant in Puerto Madero internationally recognized by several institutions such as the American newspaper "The New York Times" and the Wine Spectator award. The success of Cabaña Las Lilas lies in the meticulous selection of their raw material (Angus and Hereford cattle) brought from their own ranches in the province of Buenos Aires. In addition to trying the classic beef cuts, it is worth asking frutos de mar a la parrilla (grilled seafood) and to take the time to choose between the 750 selections on their wine list.

4. Santos Manjares

Santos Manjares is the ideal grill for those who want to eat a delicious parrilla at lunch, since it closes its doors at 4:30 in the afternoon. The best of this popular grill located in the downtown are the entraña with salsa barbacoa, the matambre a la pizza and the achuras: gizzards, chinchulines and kidneys. The atmosphere is very familiar and every detail is taken care of by its founders Néstor Santos and his wife Melisa.

5. La Cabrera

It is, undoubtedly, one of the best restaurants to eat well in Buenos Aires, internationally recognized and highly regarded by locals. The menu is full of delicacies like the provoleta con jamón crudo y tomates secos and the most requested dish is the chorizo steak, although the ojo de bife (ribeye) and entraña are also great options. If you want something prior to the meat to share among a few diners, don’t miss the fried eggs with roasted bell pepper.

6. El Desnivel

A San Telmo classic. It’s not a place with extraordinary luxury in terms of its ambience; in fact the salon is rather modest. However, it receives the best praises in the most important aspects: the meat and its relative price / quality. The typical dish to order here is a fried meat empanada and then digging into the bife de lomo or chorizo accompanied by the popular French fries. The portions are generous and on Sundays, due to the San Telmo Fair, it is advisable to put your name down early for the waiting list.

7. Las Nazarenas

Since 1981 this traditional Argentine grill has been satisfying the most demanding palates of the porteños. Its legacy is so significant for the country that it was declared an official tourist site by the Secretary of Sports and Tourism of the Nation. It’s been administered by three generations of the Barbería family and its best representation is the chivito cooked over a low flame and accompanied by a parrillada de vegetales.

8. El Don

It’s the youngest among the Top 10 of grills in Buenos Aires. It was opened in 2014 and if you are a fan of the movie "The Godfather" it will be love at first sight. However, you will only give your heart to this grill once you try the Bife El Don, which is similar to the chorizo steak but larger. Another extraordinary choice is the boar sausage or lamb gizzard. The wine list is extensive, with complete lines of wineries like Terrazas and Luigi Bosca.

Address: Carranza 1859, PalermoHours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 12:00 to 15:00 and from 20:00 to 00:30. On Mondays it is only open for dinner from 20:00 to 00:30Phone: 4774-7389Price: $$$$ (more than $600 pesos per person approximately)

9. Parilla Peña

The emblematic grill of the Tribunales area. It has a family atmosphere, the service provided by its waiters make you never want to leave, and among its highlights are the entraña de novillo. Before getting to this delicious cut, the waiter will bring you a complimentary empanada and at the culmination of the meat ritual it is almost obligatory to order the bread pudding for dessert. You will not find another that compares! Keep in mind that it is cash only.

Address: Rodríguez Peña 682, San NicolásHours: Monday to Saturday from 12:00 to 16:00 and from 20:00 to 00:00Phone: 4371-5643Price: $$$ (between $400 and $600 per person approximately)

10. Don Zoilo

Located 28 years ago in Villa Crespo, Don Zoilo is a typical neighborhood grill frequented mainly by locals. Their figures support it: it goes through 7,000 sets of silverware each month and 180 kilos of asado per weekend. The highlight of his menu is the provoleta, its selection of achuras sprinkled with lemon juice and salt and, of course, the tira de asado. Most of the time it’s packed and they don’t take reservations, which is why it’s very important to arrive early.

Extra tip: The parilla of the moment

11. La carnicería

For lovers of modern cuisine, this restaurant is a slightly more modern version of the traditional grills of Buenos Aires. Variations to the traditional Argentine dishes include: smoked sausage, homemade blood sausages, lacquered sweetbread and traditional smoked meat cuts and their phenomenal house specialty; the Parrilla Cut (Tira de Bife), have conquered the palate of Argentines and foreigners since its opening in 2017.

Unlike the more conventional grills, the chef of La Carnicería is clear in his belief that the food enters through the eyes and although the meat is the protagonist, and the presentation of each dish, including the roasted or steamed vegetables which have an important role, creating a combination of textures and colors that make each dish look irresistible.

Address: Thames 2317Horario: Reservation required. From Tuesday to Friday from 20:00 to 20:30 pm and from 22:30 pm until closing. Saturday and Sunday from 13:00 to 15:00 and opens again in two intervals from 8 to 8:30 pm and from 8:30 until closing.Phone: (11) 2071-7199Price: $$$ (between $350 and $500 per person approximately)